I truly want to believe that Japan is like this at all times. Turn a corner, duck a boulder. Go to the bathroom, meet an emu.

You're not even safe when you're in bed. You might wake up and find yourself sliding down a ski slope naked or something. I can't even imagine what kind of effect this kind of constant stress could have on the culture.

Anyway, I've been watching this show on Cartoon Network. It's more gentle and laid back than the usual CN fare, evoking fond memories of the old Schoolhouse Rock series on ABC. This episode in particular was fantastic because it references a video game we all know and love...

It's an example of "ateji," where kanji are used for pronunciation rather than literal meaning. It's just a way to use more complex characters than kana, which make for a cooler-looking logo. Konami did the same thing with Salamander a year earlier.